Two-piece valley flashing



Aug. 9, 1966 M. D. BEALS TWOPIECE VALLEY FLASHING 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed Jan. 30, 1964 IIM.

INVENTOR. 444x 0. 65445 m 1966 M. D. BEALS 3,264,790

TWO-PIECE VALLEY FLASHING Filed Jan. 50, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MAX A 55445 United States Patent TWO-PIECE VALLEY FLASHING Max D. Beals, Colton, Calif., assignor to American Metal Climax, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 341,205 Claims. (Cl. 5214) This invention relates to flashing used in roof valleys to make a water-tight junction where two sloping roof sections come together, and more particularly to a flashing for use under metal roofing shingles, or the like.

The conventional practice is to place relatively flat, V-shaped flashing of sheet metal in the valley formed by the right-angled junction of two inclined roof sections, and to overlay the flashing with shingles. The flashing provides a water-tight shield under the shingles to protect the underlying sheathing and rafters from moisture, and any rain water working its way under the shingles at the valley junction is carried down the flashing to the gutter. However, leaves or other refuse sometimes accumulate in the valley, building up dams which cause the rain water to back up to sufficient depth so that it runs over the edges of the flashing, with resultant damage to the building interior or to the roof structure. Another disadvantage of conventional flashing is that the portion of the shingles overlying the flashing cannot be nailed down to the roof sheathing, as this would necessitate driving nails through the flashing, and consequently the ends of the shingles in the roof valley are not firmly held down. The shingles in the valley are thus subject to being lifted by the wind.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved valley flashing, in which any accumulation of leaves or other refuse cannot dam the rain water to form pools that may overflow the edges of the flashing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valley flashing having a large water-carrying capacity, and which is further constructed and arranged so that water getting under the shingles is readily drained in toward the main channel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valley flashing which engages and holds the abutting ends of the shingles on both sides, thereby providing additional attachment for securing the shingles to the roof at this critical point without driving nails through the flashing, and at the same time concealing the cut ends of the shingles, which are sometimes rough and irregular.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a valley flashing which provides a firm point of attachment in the roof valley for the ends of the shingles, and that serves as a limit stop against which the shingles may be pushed at the time they are being installed, without producing a crooked junction line in the finished roof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valley flashing which projects upwardly from between the abutting ends of the shingles, to provide a neat, finished line of separation between the shingles of one roof slope and the shingles of the adjoining slope.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a valley flashing which is quickly and easily installed, inexpensive to manufacture, and which facilitates installation of the metal shingles.

These objects are achieved by means of a unique twopiece valley flashing construction consisting of upper and lower members which are joined together at the time the flashing is installed. The lower member is generally similar to the conventional flashing, while the upper member has the general configuration of an inverted channel with laterally projecting flanges interfitting with com- "ice panionate flanges on the lower member to join them together. The inverted channel-shaped upper member has slots provided in the side walls thereof through which water drains into the main channel of the lower member, and the inverted channel forms a continuous bridge over the valley flashing to prevent leaves or other trash from blocking the flow of water. The thin drainage slots in the sides of the upper member hold back any particles of debris larger than the slot, and this keeps the valley flashing free of the type of trash that tends to accumulate and form blockages. The sides of the inverted channelshaped member are also formed with channel-like pockets into which the ends of the shingles are inserted, and this conceals the cut ends of the shingles and also provides the anchorage needed for the end of the shingle.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of a roof valley, showing the invention in place between the abutting ends of the shingles;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view, taken at 2-2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the valley flashing;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken at 4-4 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the lower flashing member;

FIGURE 6 is a similar perspective view of a portion of the upper flashing member; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the shingles, taken at 77 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 1 of the drawing shows a fragmentary portion of a peaked roof, wherein two inclined roof portions 10 and 11 come together at right angles to one another to form a valley at their intersection. Roofs of this type are customarily covered with shingles 12 or the like, and while not restricted to such applications, the present invention is particularly adapted for use with metal shingles. For that reason, metal shingles 12 are shown in the drawings, and FIGURE 7 shows a typical metal shingle and the manner in which it is attached to the usual wood sheathing 13 that covers the roof rafters (not shown).

Shingle 12 is preferably made of fairly heavy gauge aluminum, and is bent on a brake press to the configuration shown in FIGURE 7. The shingles 12 are usually made up in long panels which are laid with their lengthwise dimension extending horizontally along the roof. The bottom edge of the panel is bent downwardly at 14 to form a simulated butt end, and then rearwardly to form a narrow flange 16,'which is approximately parallel to the top side of the shingle. The top edge of the shingle is bent over forwardly and upwardly at an angle of about forty-five degrees to form a lip 18.

The shingles 12 are attached to the sheathing 13 at spaced points along the length thereof, by means of clips 20 each of which is bent to provide a tab 22 which lies flat against the sheathing and is nailed thereto at 23, and an inclined, folded-over portion 24 which is hooked over the lip 18 to hold the same. The flange 16 at the bottom edge of one shingle is hooked under the lip 18 of the shingle below, and since the lip 18 is attached to the sheathing at spaced intervals along its length by clips 20, each shingle is thus held down at both top and bottom edges.

Mounted (in the roof valley and extending the length thereof between the abutting ends of shingles 12 on roof portions 10 and 11, is the valley flashing 26 of the present invention. The flashing 26 is made up of two pieces; a lower member 28 and an upper member 30 mounted on top of the former and resiliently gripping the same,-as

shown in FIGURE 2. Both of the members 28 and 30- are preferably made of fairly heavy gauge sheet alumi-,

num, although they might be made of any other noncorrodable sheet metal such as copper or zinc.

The bottom member 28'is preferably about 20 inches I wide and is bent dovwi the middle at 32 to form a shallow thereof slope inwardly toward the fold 32 of the member- 28. Laterally outwardly from the flange 34, the sides ofthe member .28.are formed with longitudinally extending,

laterally spaced nidges 38 and 40, the purpose of which will be explained presently. Near their outer edges, the

two sides of the member 28 are nailed down to the sheath-- ing 13 bynails 42;

The upper member 36 has the general configuration of:

an inverted channel, the bottom 44 of whichiis spaced upwardly from the lower flashing member 28. The channel bottom 44 is also bent along a fold-line 46 to form a flat, V-shaped channel, thesides of which are-approxL mately parallel'to the sides of the lower 'member 28.

The sides of channel 30" are bent downwardly at 481 and then inwardly at 50 to form longitudinally extending pockets 52 on each side, which are adapted to receive'the ends of the shingles 12. The bottom side of the pocket 52 is formed by a laterally outwardly projecting flange 54 which is adapted to be engaged in'the V-shaped pocket 36 formed by the flange 34. The upper member is prefer ably approximately one-third the width of the lower member.

The bottom of each of the pockets 52 is lanced through at spaced intervals along the length of the channel member to form two rows of drainage slots 56; each tof which has an (inwardly bent tab 58, that extends down-.

wardly along the slope of the flashing member 26, forming a deflector which prevents water running down the.

lower flashing member 28 I from flowing outwardly through the slot 56.

The two ridges 38 and serve to raise the under sides of the shingles 12 slightly from the top surfaces of:thc lower flashing member 28, so as to break any capillary action between the shingles and flashing member. The ridges 38 and 40 also serve to prevent the butt ends 14 of the'shingle from forming dams on top of .the lower member 28, which could cause small pools of water to back up and overflow the edges :of-the flashing. This damming tendency of the butt ends 14 of the shingles is due tothe fact that the shingles extend horizontally out-;. wardly from the valley flashing, and are not tilted .inwardly with respect thereto, as shown in FIGURE 2;v

The apparent inward tilt of the shingles 12 in FIGUREiZ being due to the inclination of the section plane. Thus,

rain water cascading down the shingles at the roof valley,

flows down into the pocket. 52, from which it drains through the slots 56 into the lower flashing member'28, and finally runs down the channel defined by the latter When the rainfall is quite heavy, water may pour into the pocket;52 faster than it can-drain through the slots,56-,-

and thus tends to back up behind any dams obstructing the free flow of water down the channels defined .by the pockets 52,.or down the flashing member 28 above the flanges 34'. By raising the bottom edges of the shingles slightly above the top surfaces of the lower flashing member 28, the ridges 38, 40 permit water to flow under-the butt ends 14 and flanges '16 of the shingles.

When the valley flashing of the present invention is installed on a roof, the lower member 28 is first positioned in place, and is nailed down along its marginal edges'to the sheathing 13 by nails 42. The upper flashing member 30' is then mounted on the lowermember by bending the flanges 54 downwardly and inwardly just enough to r pass under the flanges 34,-after which they are released and allowed to spring out so that theyare fully engaged under the flanges 34. The shingles 12 are then installed on theroof in the usual mannenwith each row of shingles being started'from the valley flashing and working outwardly therefrom. As each new row is started, the vcut end of the shinglesis inserted into the pocket. 52' andzis pushed in so that its seats'against the bottom of the pocket. The overhanging portion-48, 50 of the, flashing member 30 holds the ends of the shingles firmly down against the roof, and the exposed top portion of the member 30provides a perfectly straight divider of finished appearance,

separating the shingles. of roof section 10,5from those of sectionll.

The chief-advantage of the present invention is that it provides a valley flashing which vcannot be blocked by any: accumulation of leaves or other debris, so that rain water runningdown thenvalley is dammed up and caused to overflow the edges of the-flashing. The upper member 30. forms a continuous bridge .over the: lower, member. 28 t for the full length *thereof, shielding the V-shaped trough of the lower member -28rand keeping the .same open so that the water; can flow down freely without obstruction.

Leaves or other trash merely piles up :harmlessly on top of the uppermember 30,:where it :isout of the way of the ous changes may be madelin the shape and arrangement of the several parts without: departing from ;the';broad scopeof the=invention as definedin thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A valley flashing for a.shinglediroofqvalley, com

prising: 7

an elongated lower. member of sheet'rnetal bent along its longitudinal axis to conform to the included angles of the roof valley, said lowerrmember being firmly attached to the roof;

an uppermember of substantially narrowerawidth than.-

said lower, member: and having the general config uration-of'an inverted channel, said'upper member 1 being disposed above said lower member and coop: 1

erat-ing therewith to define a'covered channel for carrying off water;

means attaching said vupper. member to said lower member;

the shingles of said roof being. laid on top of the outer edges'of said lower member and abutting against the sidesof said upper. member; and drainage" means for admitting uwater into the space,

between said .upper and lower -members.

2; A valley'flashing for a shingled roof valley, comprising:

an elongatedlowermember: ofsheet metal bent along its longitudinal axis to conform to the includedl angles of the roof valley, said lower member being firmly attached to the roof;

said lower member having laterally inwardly directed s flanges on opposite sides of said bend; an upper member of sheet metal substantially narrower, in width than said. lower member and having the general configuration of an :inverted channel, said upper. member being disposed above the bend in said 1.

lower member and cooperating therewith to define a covered channel. for carrying ofl water;

means on .said upper member engaging said fiangeson said lower member to join said. upper and lowermembers together; theshingles of said roof being. laid on top of the outer edges of said lower member 'and abutting against' the sides of said upper member; and

- drainage means for admitting water into the space between said upper and lower members.

3. A valley flashing for a shingled roof valley, comprising:

an elongated lower member of sheet metal bent along its longitudinal axis to conform to the included angles of the roof valley, said lower member being firmly attached to the roof;

said lower member having laterally inwardly directed flanges on opposite sides of said bend;

an upper member of substantially narrower width than said lower member and having the general configuration of an inverted channel, said upper member being disposed above the bend in the said lower member and cooperating therewith to define a covered channel for carrying ofl water;

the channel sides of said upper member terminating in outwardly projecting flanges which are hooked under said inwardly directed flanges of said lower member to join said members together;

the shingles of said roof being laid on top of the outer edges of said lower member and abutting against the sides of said upper member; and

drainage means for admitting water into the space between said upper and lower members.

4. A valley flashing for a shingled roof valley, comprising:

an elongated lower member of sheet metal bent along its longitudinal axis to conform to the included angles of the roof valley, said lower member being firmly attached to the root;

an upper member of substantially narrower width than said lower member and having the general configuration of an inverted channel, said upper member being disposed above said lower member and cooperating therewith to define a covered channel for carrying off water;

said upper member including laterally spaced, parallel side walls which extend down to said lower member and are attached thereto; and

each of said side walls having a plurality of longitudinally spaced drainage slots provided therein, through which water is admitted into the space between said upper and lower members;

the shingles of said roof being laid on top of the outer edges of said lower member up to the sides of said upper member.

5. A valley flashing as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said drainage slots has a deflector attached to the up stream edge thereof, said deflector extending downwardly and inwardly from its point of attachment and serving to deflect water away from its associated slot as said water runs down said lower flashing member.

6. A valley flashing for a shingled roof valley, comprising:

an elongated, relatively wide lower member of sheet metal bent along its longitudinal median line to form a wide V-shaped channel that conforms to the included angle of the roof valley, said lower member being firmly attached to the roof;

an upper member of sheet metal having the general configuration of an inverted channel;

said upper member being disposed on top of said lower member substantially midway between the side edges thereof, the overall width of said upper member being not more than about one-third the overall width of said lower member;

means attaching said upper member to said lower member;

the shingles of said roof being laid on top of the outer edge-s of said lower member up to the sides of said upper member;

drainage means for admitting water into the enclosed space between said upper and lower members; and means. for raising the bottom edges of said shingles slightly from said lower member so as to permit water to flow down said flashing between the bottom edges of said shingles and said lower member.

7. A valley flashing for a shingled roof valley, com- 5 prising:

an elongated, relatively wide lower member of sheet metal bent along its longitudinal median line to form a wide V-shaped channel that conforms to the included angle of the roof valley, said lower member being firmly attached to the roof;

an upper member of sheet metal mounted on top of said lower member substantially midway between the side edges thereof;

said upper member having the general configuration of an inverted channel, and being not more than about one-third the Width of said lower member;

the shingles of said roof being laid on top of the outer edges of said lower member up to the sides of said upper member;

drainage means for admitting water into the enclosed space between said upper and lower members; and

the outer edges of said lower member beyond the edges of said upper member having raised, longitudinally extending ridges provided thereon which lift the bottom edges of the overlying shingles from said lower members so as to permit water to flow between them.

8. A valley flashing for a shingled roof valley, comprising:

an elongated, relatively wide lower member of sheet metal bent along its longitudinal median line to form a wide V-shaped channel that conforms to the included angle of the roof valley, said lower member being firmly attached to the roof;

an upper member of sheet metal mounted on top of said lower member substantially midway between the side edges thereof;

said upper member having the general configuration of .an inverted channel, and being not more than about one-third the width of said lower member;

the shingles of said roof being laid on top of the outer edges of said lower member up to the sides of said upper member;

means on said upper member engaging the abutting edges of said shingles to secure the same to the roof; and

drainage means for admitting water into the enclosed space between said upper and lower members.

9. A valley flashing for a shingled roof valley, comprising:

an elongated, relatively wide lower member of sheet metal bent along its longitudinal median line to form a wide V-shaped channel that conforms to the included angle of the roof valley, said lower member being firmly attached to the roof;

an upper member of sheet metal mounted on top of said lower member substantially midway between the side edges thereof;

said upper member having the general configuration of an inverted channel, and being not more than about one-third the width of said lower member;

the shingles of said roof being laid on top of the outer edges of said lower member up to the sides of said upper member;

the opposite sides of said upper member being formed with outwardly facing channels, each of which is of a width such that the abutting edges of the shingles are snugly received therein and are held thereby; and

drainage means for admitting water into the enclosed space between said upper and lower members.

10. A valley flashing for a shingled roof valley, comprising:

to the included angle of the roof valley, said'lower member being attached along its marginal edges to the roof structure; I v

.a .pair of inwardly directed flanges on said lower member extending parallel to said bend line on opposite sides thereof, said flanges being closer to said bend line than to the adjacent outer edges of said lower member;

I an upper member having the general configuration of,

an inverted channel; the sides of said upper member being formed withian overhanging portion and a laterally outwardly pro-- jecting flange, which Cooperate to define a channelshaped pocket; said laterally outwardly projecting flanges on said upper member being hooked under said laterally inwardly projecting flanges on said lower member to jointhe,

said members together;

' the shingles of said roof being laid on top of the outer portion of said lower member up to the side of said upper member, the edges of said shingles extending into said channel-shaped pockets in said upper member and being held thereby; said upper member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced drainage slots formed in the bottoms of said channel-shaped pockets, through which water drains into the enclosed space between said upper and lower members;

I each'of said drainage slots havinga deflector attached 4 to theupstreamedge thereof andextending down- I wardly and inwardly at an anglegso as to prevent water running down the flashing from backing out through said slots; and: each of the outer side vportions of said lower member having at least one raisedrib extending parallel to the adjacent :inwardly directed flange and spaced laterally outward therefrom, .said rib lifting the bo-ttom edges of the overlying shingles from said lower 1 member so as to permit waterrto flow between them.

References Cited by the Examiner UNI-TED: STATES PATENTS 2 FRANK L: ABBOTLEPrimary Examiner.

Mso. WARNECKE,Assistant Examiner.

Toti at al. 52 14 X 

1. A VALLEY FLASHING FOR A SHINGLED ROOF VALLEY, COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED LOWER MEMBER OF SHEET METAL BENT ALONG ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS TO CONFORM TO THE INCLUDED ANGLES OF THE ROOF VALLEY, SAID LOWER MEMBER BEING FIRMLY ATTACHED TO THE ROOF; AN UPPER MEMBER OF SUBSTANTIALLY NARROWER WIDTH THAN SAID LOWER MEMBER AND HAVING THE GENERAL CONFIGURATION OF AN INVERTED CHANEL, SAID UPPER MEMBER BEING DISPOSED ABOVE SAID LOWER MEMBER AND COOPERATING THEREWITH TO DEFINE A COVERED CHANNELI FOR CARRYING OFF WATER; MEANS ATTACHING SAID UPPER MEMBER TO SAID LOWER MEMBER; THE SHINGLES OF SAID ROOF BEING LAID ON TOP OF THE OUTER EDGES OF SAID LOWER MEMBER AND ABUTTING AGAINST THE SIDES OF SAID UPPER MEMBER; AND DRAINAGE MEANS FOR ADMITTING WATER INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID UPPER AND LOWER MEMBERS. 